Ian Bramham's Photoblog
Saruman's Tower at Isengard....
Posted by Ian Bramham (Manchester, United Kingdom) on 27 April 2008 in Architecture and Portfolio.
....at least that's what this image conjured up for me. The truth is a little less poetic as it's really a victorian lighthouse on the north side of Morecambe Bay in NW England.
Here's some Tolkein from "Lord Of The Rings" while I'm in the mood for drama :
"Three Rings for the Elven-kings under the sky,
Seven for the Dwarf-lords in their halls of stone,
Nine for Mortal Men doomed to die,
One for the Dark Lord on his dark throne
In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.
One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them,
One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them
In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie."
For purchasing high quality archival prints of any of these photos you can send me an email by clicking here or by going to MY NEW WEBSITE where prices are listed in the gallery sections under each individual photo.
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Links to the websites of other photographers whose work I love and who have all helped me enormously over a long period of time. I find the work of all 3 to be inspirational.
@hugo poon: Hi Hugo....believe it or not this image has been sat mouldering away on my computer for ages as I didn't think it was salvageable.
Because I took the photo looking directly into the sun the difference in exposure values between the sky and the sillouetted face of the tower was huge and without post processing in Photoshop the tower was just a solid black with no detail at all.
It's amazing what shooting in 'Raw' format and photoshop will do to bring out detail in shadows isn't it!
Ana Lúcia from Leiria, Portugal
:) I love "Lord Of The Rings" !
And I love this image. Excellent play with light and shadows, very attractive take.
27 Apr 2008 8:22am
@Ana Lúcia: Thanks Ana!
@Alun Lambert: Thanks Alun!
Viewfinder from Bradenton, United States
Perfect. I just watched the trilogy again last week. Perfect. (and this is what I meant by saying a previous scene looked so "English" -- just didn't want to come off as the only LOTR junkie around - glad you're conversant).
27 Apr 2008 11:48am
@Viewfinder: Thanks very much....I guess for photography we are very lucky in England. I long for meditteranean light occasionally but I wouldn't swop it for the variety that we get here with the varying seasons, landscapes and architecture.
Lorraine from Gatineau, Canada
Well God didn't hold back when he bestowed talents to you...I'm always so in Awe :)
27 Apr 2008 12:15pm
@Lorraine: Thanks!....but if I listened to you Lorraine, I wouldn't be able to get out of the house in the morning. I'd have such a big head I wouldn't be able to get out through the front door! :-)
It's a straightforward photo really....who could pass by this scene with a camera in their hand and not try to photograph it!
Observing from Chester, United Kingdom
A hugely strong, almost symbolic image, the tower is casting its shadow to confirm its presence.
27 Apr 2008 1:14pm
@Observing: Thanks!...I hadn't quite read that much into it but I did love that shadow. taking photos into the sun is great fun with this Sigma 10-20 lens!
Michael Skorulski from Cigel, Slovakia
You certainly got it right here. Excellent.
27 Apr 2008 2:49pm
@Michael Skorulski: Thanks Michael!
@Sharon: Thanks Sharon!
@tm: Thanks Tom!
JoeB from Brampton, Canada
It seems so symbolic, different shape for a lighthouse.
27 Apr 2008 11:19pm
@JoeB: Thanks!...yes, it's very tall & thin isn't it!. Apparantly all the other ones of this design were demolished. This one was going to be treated the same way until local residents campaigned successfully to get it saved.
Twelvebit from Victoria, United States
Sorry, but Saruman moved his tower to a ranch outside of Waco, Texas. Great shot though.
27 Apr 2008 11:32pm
@Twelvebit: :-).....thanks!
Michael Rawluk from Prince George, Canada
Staring at the sun really makes it great. I really like the shadow coming along the ground toward us.
28 Apr 2008 12:42am
@Michael Rawluk: Thanks Michael....I used the tower to shield most of the glare but this 10-20 lens loves taking photos into the sun.
@Ian: Thanks very much Ian!
Nataly from Santa Monica, United States
Fantastic shot, Ian! The Glowing Tower and the "face" in the upper left corner... The title feats perfectly!
28 Apr 2008 7:20pm
@Nataly: Thanks Nataly...I hadn't spooted the 'face'!
@Anthony: Thanks Anthony...no the D40 is my preciousss :-)
Lorraine from Gatineau, Canada
and still I bet you'd find something to photograph ;)
29 Apr 2008 11:09am
@Lorraine: :-)
Lorraine from Gatineau, Canada
and looking back at Nataly's comment, she's right, there's a face whoa...
29 Apr 2008 11:10am
Stu from Kyoto, Japan
Ahh....a geek after my own heart. Another super shot. I absolutely agree about the power of shooting in RAW. Do you do your night shots in RAW too? I gave up on it for a while but went back to it.
30 Apr 2008 1:28pm
@Stu: Hi Stu!...yes I've shot everything in raw since getting this D40 at the turn of the year. I love raw mainly for it's control over white balance but the extra dynamic range comes in habndy as well sometimes.
amy from Rocky Mountain House, Canada
All of the posts I've missed are fantastic... but this one really pulls at me. Truly amazing, Ian!! A little flight of fancy with the LOTR... but brilliant. Started with The Hobbit myself when I was 11yrs old.
2 May 2008 2:11am
@amy: Thanks Amy....I think I was about the same age as you were when I read The Hobbit for the first time!
Nikon D40
1/4000 second
F/9.0
ISO 200
27 mm (35mm equiv.)